Inlaid floor covering and method of making same



A rll 28, 1953 H. s. HUMPHREYS 2,636,542

INLAID FLOOR COVERING AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed June 20. 1949 5Sheets-Sheet 1 dOJ.

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INLAID FLOOR COVERING AND METHOD OF'MAKING SAME Filed June 20, 1949 5Sheets-Sheet 5 l7 a0 0 o 0 a I o a 0 o a 0 Q d 0 [7 o c Q 0 a o a I l 8a a O 0 a I 0 B a o a o 0 c a Q m D I 0 D V0 0 o Q o Q o a a a o 0 o A aa o a o n & o

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Patented Apr. 28, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INLAID FLOOR.COVERING AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Harry 8.. Humphrey's; Lancaster, Pa.,assignor-to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Application June 20., 1949,. Serial No, 100,167

10' Claims. (CL. 154*26) This invention. relates. to the manufacture01.;- surface coverings of the inlaid type, such as linoleum floorcoverings. It i particularly concerned with the manufacture of acovering in simulation of a so-called spatter floor butv in which thecovering has spatter-representing areas inlaid into the body of thecovering.

spatter design floors have been used since early colonial times,particularly in New England. They have generally been created byapplying a base color of paint to a wooden floor and then spattering aplurality of paints of variegating colors over the base color. A paintbrush is usually dip ed. into paint of the variegating color and the.brush. is then struck flatwise against a short stick. or the like Thisresults in. av discharge of small globules of paint which. are permittedto. fall in. random arrangement. upon the base coat. Some designs ofthis type have but one or two variegating colors applied. over. the basecolor in this manner, but others have numerous colors so applied.

This type of painted floor is not very durable and the variegatingcolorsv soon wear away in trafiicareas, leaving the base coat andeventually the floor board exposed.

An object of this invention is to provide an inlaid, surface covering insimulation of a spatter paint design in which the spatter design willextend substantially throughout the thickness. 01 l the wearing layerand will not. be subject to wearingoff before the covering has beencompletely worn out.

Another object of the invention is. to provide a processor making aninlaid spatter floor which provides for the. formation of spatter; areasof srally of. smaller size than the inlaid areas, are

heterogenecusly distributed throughout the thickness of the body layer.

An additional object is to provide a process of making. a spatter designutilizing conventional stenciling equipment of the type customarilyemployed in linoleum manufacture.

According to this invention there are prepared a. number of mixes ofgranulated inlaying composition or a base color and a plurality ofvarie- 2. gating colors. For purposes ofillustration, linoleum mixesvwill be referred to throughout the specification. Other types of mixeswhich may be fed through stencil openings and subsequently consolidatedinto a sheet may be employed. The base color composition and thevariegating color compositions are mottled together to' form a body mixof base color composition with the variegating color compositionsheterogeneouslydistributed throughout the base color composition. Thegranules of variegating color compositions are of irregular shape and ofvarying size, being for the most part visually discernible. The body mixis strickled through a stencil, preferably onto a foundation orbaclsinglayer of burlap or felt. The stencil is cut to provide open areas in thelayer of base mix into which inlays of variegating color compositionsmay be deposited"; These inlays are formed of color compositions similarto the varie gating c0101" compositions of the body layer insofar ascolor is concerned but may be of finer granulation since they aredeposited into the openings in the body layer as a mass of monocolor,and the individual granules are not necessarily visually discernible assuch. Each of the variegating colors applied a inlays is deposited intoopenings in the body layer by strickling through stencils withappropriately spaced openings. Generally only one color composition willbe deposited into each opening in the body layer, but. for a realisticspatter effect some of the openings may be partially filled .with onevariegating color composition and the remainder filled with asecondvariegating color composition. This will give the effect of tworelatively large spatter areas, one overlying a portion of the other,similar to spatter paint areas where one paint is spattered overanother. Of course the smaller spatter areas represented by thevariegating color composition of the body layer will in many instanceslie contiguous to the larger inlaid spatter areas because the body mixis formed of a plurality of variegating color compositions distributedthroughout a base color composition.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will I be described inconjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a molded inlaid linoleum. productionline;

Figure 2 is a schematic layout for the stencils of the production lineof Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of a stencil for the application ofthe body layer;

Figures 4 through 9 are plan views of portions of stencils for theapplication of the inlays into Figure 13 is a diagrammaticview similarto Figure 12 illustrating the stencilling of one of the inlays of thebody mix.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a production line for themanufacture of inlaid surface coverings such as inlaid linoleum. This isa diagrammatic view, and mechanical strickling which make up thevariegating color composition are of such size as to be visuallydiscernible as particles when intermixed with the base colorcomposition. Preferably they are of the same size as the base color,namely, fine enough to pass a 5-mesh screen to avoid any possibility ofparticle segregation which. might-occur if the average size of the basecolor and vari'egating color particles varied greatly. This size islarger than customarily used in molded inlaid linoleum manu ai l l rebutis necessary in order to produce visually discernible granules in thefinished article. Care is used to obtain as great a proportion-aspossible of particles near the upper equipment which may be employed'hasnot been" shown. In the manufacture of the covering, a

foundation is customarily employed; and in Figure 1 there isshown'arollz offoundation material which may be burlap or a waterprooffelt, for example. The'foundation [is carried over a suitable supportbeneath a plurality of stencils 3 to 9, inclusive, whichare providedwith openings through which the inlaying composition may-pass onto thefoundation 2. In the manufacture of inlaid linoleum,- the stencils aregenerally about six feet one or two inches by about fifty-four inches.The width of the stencil is greater than six feet because additionalwidth is required in the finished sheet of linoleum for trimming, thefinallinoleum product being normally six feet wide, after trimming, andof indefinite length. After the application of the various colorcompositions to the foundation through the stencils, the foundation withits applied inlayingcomposition is pressed lightly at press Iii toprevent the granules of inlaying composition from shifting as thebacking passes into a dipbetween the inlaying table and the firsthydraulic press ll. Press H; consolidates the layer'of inlayingcomposition onto the backing. If desired, a second press 12 maybeprovided for finishing the surface and further .consolidating thematerial. Where the product is linoleum which requires heat. curing, thefoundation with its applied layer ishung. in festoons I3 in a stove andheat is applied for a period of time sufficient to cure the mass.

. The foregoing description of the inlaying. line is of a general natureto indicate how the process of the present invention may be practicedutilizing conventional molded inlaid linoleum manufacturing equipment. T

As an example of the method of this invention, reference is made toFigures 3 to 9, inclusive, showing a series of stencils for themanufacture of a spatter design surface covering in molded inlaidlinoleum. For purposes of illustration it will be assumed that the basecolor is white and the variegating colors are red, yellow, green, blue,brown, and black. In the manufacture of the product,a mass of granulatedwhite molded inlaid linoleum composition will be first produced, thegranules being of such size that all will pass through a 5-mesh per inchscreen, thus including particles varying in size from fine dustlikegranules up to those which will just pass through'the 5-"mesh screen.Similar batches of variegating color composition will be prepared, eachbatch consisting of irregularly shaped .granulesof mono-coloredcomposition,.one batch being red, a second yellow, and so on, one foreach of the variegating colors. The granules limit on size and avoid theformation of too large a proportion offinegranules. 4

The proportioning of the variegating color compositions inthebase colormay vary widely. A black base color, for example, may require a smallerproportioning of variegating colors than a- .white base color... ,Asatypical embodiment, the following'proportioning is given Pound? Basecolor-white 30" Variegating colors: H 1

Red 1 Yellow 1' Green' 1 Blue 1 Brown i 1 Black 1 The base andvar'iegatin'g colors are mottled together'to produce a relativelyfree-flowing mass in which the variegating color compositions areheterogeneously distributed throughout the body of'the mix. 5 i j 7 Thebody layer of theI surfacecovering is formed by distributingtlie bodymix described above through va'stencil suchas the section of a stencilshown in Figure 3 and to an enlarged scale in section in Figure 12, andwhich may be the stencil 3 of Figure 1. It will be notedthat the,stencil is made up of a plurality of stencil wires l4 disposed in onedirection and other wires l5 disposed at right angles thereto to form anopen gridwork through which color composition may pass, In those areaswhere it is desired to provide openings in the body layer'for'thereception ofinlays, solid members lfi'are provided and are fixed to thewires. 14 andJii. f In the first inlaying station, therefore, the bodymix, includ ing the .base. color. composition. .and the individuallydiscernible granules or variegating color. composition, is disposed uponthe backing} and, substantially covers the'sam'e except inlthe areasbelow the solid members 16 of the stencil, which areas remainas'openings in 'the'body layer. Atthe first stencil about 92% of thetotal weight of the inlaying compositionconstituting the wearing layerof the coverin is applied, leaving 8%. of the weight to be completed byinlaid areas. Since the color composition of the body layer isrelatively free fio'wing there is some tendency for the mix to slough atthe edges ofthe openings and fall' onto the foundation at the base of--the openings; thus, the openings may not extend to the full depth ofthe body layer; but they will normally extend substantially throughoutthe full depth. This 'sloughing is minimized where mechanical stricklingis accomplished.

The foundation with the body'layer thereon is moved into position, belowthe stencil 4,. and in that station. green iinlays 'may j be .insei ted'into acsaua i I 5. openings provided for their reception in the bodylayer. Figure 4 shows a section of a stencil cor-- responding -'tostencil 4 of. Figure 1 for the deposit of green-colored inlays.

The number and size of the openings in the stencils for the inlaidspatter colors will depend upon the proportioning of colors desired bythe designer. A very attractive effect is obtained with the followingproportioning in the white back- The inlays being generally larger thanthe individual granules of variegating color in the body layer standvout in greater contrast; and, by

having 2% red and 2% yellow, these two colors appear to predominate inthe spatter efi'ect, with:

the white base color, of course, characterizing the whole design.

The preparation of the mix for the inlays is generally similar to thatemployed in the preparation of the body layer, except that the colorcomposition is generally more finely granulated so that the particlesare not individually discernible. The openings in the stencil arerelatively. small in. area, and this too requires that the colorcomposition be relatively line in order to properly strickle through thestencil openings and fill'the areas provided for their reception in thebody layer. The inlaying color compositions maybo sieved to remove allparticles larger than will pass through a 6 to S-mesh per inch screen;and, insofar as possible, the granules will be on the fine side withvery few in the range which will just pass through the sieve. Since theinlays are monocolored. and are made up of a mass of.

granules, there is not the need for large granules in the inlaid areasthat there is in the body: layer where the varietgating colorcomposition.

granules must be individually discernible for the desired efiect.

The stencil shown in Figure 4 is provided with a plurality of openings Hin a plate i8 which: is solid and maybe formed of zinc, for example; Theopenings ll are so disposed that when the founwith the openings ll beingcut therein.

dati'on 2 with the body layer disposed thereon is brought into thestation of stencil It the openin s i'i will overlie openings which havebeen left in the body layer due to the presence of, certain-oi.

the solid members E6 of the stencil of Figure 3. A small portion or thestencil including. one or the stencil openings ll is shown in theenlarged sectional view of Figure 13. Green inlaying cornposition is fedthrough the stencil openings IT at station 4, substantially completelyfilling those corresponding openings in. the body layer which lie belowthe stencil openings i't. As pointedout;

above, some few of the openings in the body layer may be filled with twoor more inlay colors. joined with an irregular juncture line, but themajority will be inlaid with a single color.

The foundation 2 with the body layer and. the green inlays now movesinto station where the stencil plate. is shown in Figure. 5 ispositioned. This stencil is provided with openings 20,, and blueinlayi'ng composition is fed through these openings and is receivedwithin complementary openings provided in the body layer which is dis--posed. below the stencil. This operation is repeated for stencils 6, l,8, and 9 of Figure 1. The stencils are shown in Figures 6 to 9, inclusive. Stencil plate 2! which is shown in Figure 6 applies brown.inlaying color composition through openings 22 provided in the plate;stencil plate 23 of Figure 7 applies black inlaying composition throughopenings 24 in the plate; stencil plate 25 shown in Figure 8 applies redinlaying composition through stencil openings 26 provided in that plate:and stencil 21 applies yellow inlaying composition through openings 28in that stencil plate.

The stenciling of the inlaying color compositions into the openings inthe body layer substan-- tially completely fills all of the openingsprovided: in the body layer. The foundation with the op,-

iied composition is then fed into press all where heat and pressureapplied to consolidate the in lays and the body layer to form aflat-surfaced sheet. of the desired density, securely afiixed to thefoundation. 2. A second pressing may be accomplished in press it tofinally consolidate the mass and provide a smooth, dense surface. If themass is formed of linoleum composition the material will then be hunginto testoons it in a stove and cured, after which the material may becoated with lacquer or was or both.- trimmedv to the desired width, androlled, ready.

for shipment and use.

The ortions of stencils shown in Figures. 3 to 9' may represent, forexample, 18" x 18" sections of a '72" x 54" stencil plate. Figure 2illustrates the manner of disposing such sections in the prepara* tionof a iuil-size stencil from an 18 x l8 master section. The top of. each.section. shown in Figures 3 to 9, inclusive. will be disposed in. the

orientation indicated in Figure 2. and will thus produce an irregular orrandom disposition of the inlays without readily discernible repeats inthe full length and width of the stencil.

Reference is now made to Figures 3.0 and 1.1

-- which show the finished product. The body layer has been designated29 and is composed of a white base composition 30' with particles M ofvariegating color compositions heterogeneously dis tributedtherethroughout. described, there are particles of six variegating colorcompositions in the white base mix. It will be observed by reference toFigure 11 that the particles: of. variegating color. composition do notindividually extend from the race to theback. of the. body layer;however, since the particles are randomly disposed throughout thethickness of the body layer some of the variegating particles. willalways be disposed at the upper surface asv the covering wears away. Theinlays 32" extend throughout the" thickness of the base layer as shownin Figure iii, and in the embodiment described there are inlays 32' ineach of the six variegating' colors. No attempt has been made to showthese by color in Figures 10' and 11 because of the small size of theillustration. The inlays are irregular in shape and have irregular edgesas shown, thus. faithfully reproducing; the desired spatter effect. Someof the inlays are in. con

tiguous relationship, as those numbered 33, 34,.

and 35 in Figure 10 whichmay be areas or blue,

yellow. and black, for example, inlaid into an opening of appropriateshape provided in the body layer. Others of the inlays may also be madeup 013 two-or more contiguous areas each of. monocolor.

In the embodiment- Figuresgi3 and .10 have been placed one above theother on the drawing to give a general indication. of the extent of thelateral spreading of the inlaying color compositions and the sloughin ofthe body layer. It will be noted that the solid portions I6 of thestencil of Figure 3 are relatively smaller than the inlaid areas. Withlarge particles constituting the body layer, close conformity with thestencil is not obtained; and there is some minor sloughing. Thesefactors result in inlays of somewhat larger uppersurface area than thesurface areas of the solid portions l6 and in inlays having irregularedges, both desirable results in achieving a characteristic spatterdesign.

Thcvisu-al appearance of the finished product simulates a spatter floorhaving large and small spatters of the same colors upon a backgroundcolor, The inlays representing the large spatters extend throughout thethickness of the wear layer of the covering, and the smaller butvisually discernible particles -of the same colored variegatingcompositions extend throughout the thickness of the wear layer in randomorientation and the design efiect will persist as the cover-- ing isworn. I

Because it is customary in spatter designs to have both large and smallspatter areas of the same colors, the use of inlays of colorscorresponding to the variegating colors of the body layer is desirable,although for some purposes some of the inlays may be of a colordifferent from the variegating colors; and in other in-' stances morebody variegating colors may be employed than inlaid colors to produce aneffect similar to what might be achieved by spattering paints ofdifferent viscosities where all of the spatters of one particular colorof paint may be relatively large or relatively small. Generally,however, as mentioned above, it is preferred to use inlaying colors thesame as the variegating colors with inlays of all of the variegatingcolors being present at the surface and extending throughoutsubstantially the whole thickness of the coverings,

While I have illustrated and described a pre ferred embodiment of theinvention, itwill be understood the same is not limited thereto-but maybe otherwise embodied and practiced within the scope of the followingclaims.

I claim: 1 1. In a method of making an inlaid material in simulation ofa spatter painted surface, the steps comprising: forming a body layer ofgranulated inlaying composition having randomly disposed and irregularlyshaped inlay-receiving openings therein, which openings are individualjly substantially larger than thefgranules of sai body layer, bydelivering granulated inlaying composition made up of heterogeneouslyintermingled granules of a base color and individually discernible,irregularly shaped granules of each of a plurality of variegating colorsto a stencil and depositing the same through openings in said stencil,and forming in said body layer irregularly shaped monocolored inlayscorresponding in colors to variegating colors of said individuallydiscernible granules of said body layer by depositing through openingsin other stencils and into said irregularly shaped inlay-receivingopenings inf said body layer a plurality of monocolored masses ofgranulated inlaying composition, the colors of which correspond tovariegating colors of said individually-discernible granules of saidbody layer.

=-2. In a method of making an inlaidmaterial in simulation of a spatterpainted surface, the steps comprising: ;forming a body mix ofheterogeneously intermingled granules of a base color composition andindividually discernible,

irregularly shaped granules of a plurality of monocolored variegatingcolor compositions, with the base color composition predominating byvolume; forming upon a foundation a body layer having randomly disposedand irregularly;

' stencil onto said foundation; and forming in said body layerirregularly shaped monocolored inlays corresponding in colors tovariegating colors of said individually discernible granules of saidbody layer by depositing through openings in other stencils and intosaid irregularly shapedinlay-r'eceiving openings in said body layer aplurality of monocolored masses of granulated in-. laying composition,the colors of which correspond to variegating colors of certainindividually discernible granules of said body layer.

3. In a method of making an inlaid material in simulation of a spatterpainted surface, the steps comprising: forming a body mix ofindividually discernible, irregularly shaped granules of abase colorcomposition and a plurality of variegating color compositions, with thebase color composition predominating by volume; forming upon afoundation a body layer having randomly disposed and irregularly shapedinlay-receiving openings therein, which openingsare individuallysubstantially larger than the granules of said body layer,-by deliveringsaid body mix to a stencil and depositing the same through openings insaid stencil onto said layer irregularly shaped monocolored inlays bydepositing through openings in other stencils and into said irregularlyshaped inlay-receiving openings in said body layer said granulatedvariegating color composition mixes.

4. In a method of making an inlaid material in simulation of a spatterpainted surface, the steps comprising: forming. upon a foundation 8.body layer of granulated inlaying composition having randomly disposedand irregularly shaped inlay-receivingopenings therein, which openingsare individually substantially larger than the granules of said bodylayer, by delivering granulated inlaying composition made up ofheterogeneously intermingled granules of a base color and individuallydiscernible, irregularly shaped granules of each of a plurality ofvariegating colors to a stencil and depositing the same through openingsin said stencil onto said foundation; forming in said body layerirregularly shaped monocolored inlays-corresponding in colors tovariegating colors of said individually discernible granules of saidbody layer by depositing through openings in other stencils and intosaid, irregularly shaped inlay-receiving openings in said body layer aplurality of monocolored masses-of granulated inlaying composition, thecolors of which correspond to variegatcolors of said individuallydiscernible granules of said bodylayer, with each of said openings beingfilledewith. inlaying color composition which;'

9. extends substantially throughout'the thickness of the body. layer;and consolidating said body layer and inlays into a homogeneous sheet.

5. In a method of making an inlaid material in simulation of aspatter'painted surface, the

steps comprising: forming a body layer of granulated inlayingcomposition having randomly disposed and irregularly shapedinlay-rcceiving openings therein, which openings are individuallysubstantially larger than the granules of said body layer, by deliveringgranulated inlaying "composition made up of heterogeneously intermingledgranules of a base color and individually discernible, irregularlyshaped granules of each of apluralityofyariegating colors to a stenciland depositing the same "through openings'in said stencil, and formingin said body layer irregularly shaped monocolored inlays correspondingin colors to variegating colors of said individually discerniblegranules of said body layer by depositing through openings in anotherstencil and into certain of the irregularly shaped inlay-receivingopenings in said body layer a monocolored mass of finely granulatedinlaying composition, the granules of which are nonindividuallydiscernible and the color of which corresponds to one of the variegatingcol rs of said individually discernible granules of said body layer, andrepeating the application of similar monocolored masses through otherstencil openings until all of said openings in the body layer have beenfilled with inlaying color compositions corresponding in colors to thevariegating color compositions of the body layer.

6. In a method of making molded inlaid linoleum in simulation of aspatter painted surface, the steps comprising: forming upon a foundationa body layer of granulated molded inlaid linoleum composition havingrandomly disposed and irregularly shaped inlay-receiving openingstherein, which openings are individually substantially larger than thegranules of said body layer, by delivering granulated molded inlaidlinoleum composition made up of heterogeneously intermingled granules ofa base color and individually discernible, irregularly shaped granulesof each of a plurality of variegating colors to a stencil and depositingthe same through openings in said stencil onto said foundation, andforming in said body layer irregularly shaped monocolored inlayscorresponding in colors to variegating colors of said individuallydiscernible granules of said body layer by depositing through openingsin other stencils and into said irregularly shaped inlay-receivingopenings in said body layer a plurality of monocolored masses ofgranulated molded inlaid linoleum composition, the colors of whichcorrespond to variegating colors of said individually discerniblegranules of said body layer.

7. In a method of making molded inlaid linoleum in simulation of aspatter painted surface, the steps comprising: forming upon a foundationa body layer of granulated molded inlaid linoleum composition havingrandomly disposed and irregularly shaped inlay-receiving openingstherein, which openings are individually substantially larger than thegranules of said body layer, by delivering granulated molded inlaidlinoleum composition made up of heterogeneously intermingled granules ofa base color and individually discernible, irregularly shaped granulesof each of a plurality of variegating colors to a stencil and depositingthe same through openings in said stencil onto said foundation; andforming in said body layer irregularly shaped monocolored inlayscorresponding in colors to variegatin'g colors of said individuallydiscernible granules of said body-layer by depositing through openingsin another stencil and into portions only of some of said irregularlyshaped inlay-receiving openings in said body layer a-monocolored mass ofgranulated molded inlaid linoleum composition,

the color of which corresponds to a *v-ariegating.

color composition of the body mix, while com- "pletely filling ethers ofsaid openings with said monocolored inlay composition, and thereaftercomplet ng the filling of said partially filled'openings withmonocolored-masses composed of granules of molded inlaid linoleumcomposition of a different color, corresponding to another variegatingcolor of the individually discernible granules of the body layer andcompletely filling others of said openings with said composition of adifferent color.

8. An inlaid material simulating a spatter painted surface comprising: abody layer formed of granulated inlaying composition made up ofheterogeneously intermingled granules of a base color and individuallydiscernible, irregularly shaped granules of each of a plurality ofvariegating colors extending irregularly throughout the thickness ofsaid body layer, and irregularly shaped monocolored inlays, the colorsof which correspond to variegating colors of said individuallydiscernible granules of said body layer, randomly disposed in said bodylayer and extending from the upper surface thereof substantiallythroughout the thickness of said body layer, said inlays being formed ofa plurality of monocolored masses of granulated inlaying compositioninlaid into openings provided in the body layer, said inlays beingindividually larger at the upper surface of the body layer than theindividual surface areas of said discernible granules of variegatingcolor composition disposed in the upper surface of the body layer.

9. An inlaid material simulating a spatter painted surface comprising: abody layer formed of granulated inlaying composition made up ofheterogeneously intermingled granules of a base color and individuallydiscernible, irregularly shaped granules of each of a plurality ofvariegating colors extending irregularly throughout the thickness ofsaid body layer and irregularly shaped monocolored inlays, the colors ofwhich correspond to variegating colors of said individually discerniblegranules of said body layer, randomly disposed in said body layer andextending from the upper surface thereof substantially throughout thethickness of said body layer, said inlays being formed of a plurality ofmonocolored masses of non-individually discernible granules of inlayingcomposition inlaid into openings provided in the body layer, said inlaysbeing individually larger at the upper surface of the body layer thanthe individual surface areas of said discernible granules of variegatingcolor composition disposed in the upper surface of the body layer.

10. A molded inlaid linoleum simulating a spatter painted surfacecomprising: a body layer formed of granulated molded inlaid linoleumcomposition made up of heterogeneously intermingled granules of a basecolor molded inlaid linoleum composition and individually discernible,irregularly shaped granules of each of a plurality of variegating colorsextending irregularly throughout the thickness of said body layer, andirregularly shaped monocolored inlays, the colors of which correspond-tovariegating colors of said individually discernible granules of saidbody layer, randomly disposed in said body layer and extending from theupper surface thereof substantially throughout the thickness of openingsprovided in the body layer, said inlays being individually larger at theupper surface 'of the body layer than the individual surface areas ofsaid discernible granules of variegating color composition disposed inthe upper surface 10f the body layer.

HARRY s. HUMPHREYS.

12 References Cited in the file of this patent 4 UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date Ekstrom Mar. 15, 1904 Jackson June 24, 1930 LedeboerFeb. 3, 1931 Hartman et-al "Apr. 19, 1932 Humphreys May 30, 1933Humphreys June 6, 1933 Phelan June 27, 1933 Kessler Nov. 28, 1933Kaufman et al. Dec. 19, 1933 Berger May 6, 1941 Berger Dec. 22, 1942Berger Nov. 27, 1945

